DRIVERS in a major US city have been left “outraged” by the extortionate fees they’re being expected to pay by towing companies used by the police.
One driver was even handed a fee of nearly $1,700 after a crash – significantly higher than the fees charged by other companies the police department uses.
Drivers in a major US city are up in arms after being hit with huge towing fees[/caption]
One particular company that’s utilized by local police is charging outrageous prices[/caption]
According to Oregon Live, police in Portland, Oregon, were called to a totaled vehicle on Northeast Columbia Boulevard.
The incident, involving an SUV blocking a lane after a crash, led to the police initiating a “private request tow” and promptly calling local firm Elite Towing.
The car’s owner was then charged a cool $1,657 for the tow – which works out at more than triple a city-negotiated rate.
But a report later released by the city’s ombudsman found that one of the half dozen tow companies Portland police call upon to take away crashed, stolen, abandoned or illegally parked cars charges more than four times as much as its five other rivals.
The SUV’s owner brought this issue to the city’s attention, adding: “I was stunned and outraged.”
The ombudsman found that, in the first three months of 2025, Elite Towing slapped 91 drivers retrieving their towed cars with a median bill of $1,893 – five times higher than the median amount its competitors charged.
“The police said they want to avoid a punitive citation when the motorist did nothing wrong,” the ombudsman’s report reads.
The Ombudsman’s Office suggests a fix that will address concerns of over-charged drivers is an imposed default rate for all towing companies, including Elite.
The Portland Bureau of Transportation would be responsible for making this change.
In a response to the report, Erika Nebel, who oversees PBOT’s Parking & Regulatory Operations Division, said the bureau doesn’t regulate private tows initiated by police.
She added: “Consumers would be better served by having information on how to contact multiple towing companies, so they can compare prices and availability to meet their budget and needs.”
Deputy Ombudsman Tony Green added his office isn’t done looking at the towing rules.
“This memo is just one in a series,” Green said.
“We keep getting more information about towing that we need to look into. This is ongoing work.”
This comes as drivers across Oregon could soon be hit with a wave of new costs, including a $340 annual charge, under a wide-ranging proposal targeting everything from gas pumps to electric vehicles.
The plan also tacks on new taxes for car sales and hikes fees for licenses and renewals.
Even gas prices are set to climb under the measure, which lawmakers rolled out Monday.
The changes are part of a 100-plus-page bill being debated in Oregon’s Legislature.
It’s part of Oregon’s House Bill 2025, also known as the Transportation Reinvestment Package.
And one of the most controversial parts is a mandatory road usage charge for electric vehicle owners.
What to do if your car is towed
Wrongfully or not, retrieving a towed vehicle can be a hassle.
If your vehicle is towed after parking in a “No Parking” zone or other legitimate reason, there are a few steps to take to get it back.
Steps to take when your car is towed:
- Try to figure out why your car was towed. Did you not see a posted “No Parking” sign? Did you miss a car payment? Did you return to a lot where you have unpaid citations? Finding the reason can narrow down the phone numbers to dial.
- Locate the vehicle. Most states, cities, or counties require towing companies to leave some form of contact information via a posted sign or sent by mail.
- Recovery dates and times depend on the company that towed the vehicle, but those times will be posted to the website or can be recited by a representative.
- Pay the fees. Be careful to be as prompt as possible, as some tow yards may charge storage fees by the day.
If you feel your vehicle was wrongfully towed, contesting the action can be done with the following steps:
- Be prompt – many states have a small window of time where it’s acceptable to file a complaint against a company that wrongfully towed the vehicle.
- Gather supporting documents: photos, emails, receipts, police reports, and witness statements if applicable. The more evidence, the better.
- Get familiar with your local laws, as laws for towing companies vary per state.
- Try speaking with the towing company. Sometimes it may have been a simple oversight, and the matter can be resolved quickly.
- Contact the Justice of the Peace in your area, as they may have more insight or resources to help. They are often utilized for towing cases.
- Talk to a lawyer. Many lawyers have free case consultations, and depending on the case, it may be worth it to utilize a lawyer.
Source: Oregon Department of Justice, National General, Rak Law Firm
